Syracuse, NY -- An 18-year-old Syracuse woman has been charged with arson following a fire that left three families homeless Sunday in the city of Syracuse, fire investigators said.

Nateasha Davis, of 137 Webster Ave., was charged with felony arson and reckless endangerment after the 12:45 a.m. fire, police said. She was sent to the Onondaga County Justice Center jail and was due to be arraigned Monday morning.

Police said Davis had an argument Saturday with the downstairs tenant. Witnesses saw her running from the scene after the fire.

Syracuse firefighters were called to the three-family house fire, at 204-206 W. Colvin St., where fire investigators determined the fire was intentionally ignited on the first-floor rear porch, Lt. Ken Heffernan said.

Some of the occupants were asleep when the fire started and smoke detectors did not alert them because the fire began outside the house, Heffernan said. Instead, a passer-by alerted the people inside the house, he said.

Four of the five family members -- including two children -- who live in the first-floor apartment were home at the time of the fire, and got out safely. So did a woman who lives on the second floor and another woman lives on the third floor, Heffernan said.

The fire significantly damaged the house, said Heffernan, a fire investigator.

A Disaster Action Team of the American Red Cross Central New York Chapter provided immediately assistance, including food and clothing. The Red Cross also arranged for two of the families to stay at hotels; the third family is staying with a family member, according to a Red Cross news release.